Comparative and superlative of adjectives

What are comparative adjectives?

Take a look at these sentences:

Martin is old. Hes older than his sister.

Neptune is big. Its bigger than Earth.
Apple iPhones are expensive. Theyre more expensive than most other phones.
Old, big, expensive are adjectives.
Older, bigger, more expensive are comparative forms.
What are superlative adjectives?
For examples of superlative forms, lets look at these sentences:
Jack is the oldest person in the village.
Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system.
The Beatles are probably the most popular band of all time.
The oldest, the biggest, the most popular are superlative forms.
Rules for forming comparatives and superlatives

Comparative, superlative adjectives: rules

Adjective type Adjective Comparative Superlative

Short adjectives (one

syllable) old, long older, longer the oldest, the longest

Adjectives ending in one

vowel + one consonant big, hot bigger, hotter the biggest, the hottest

Two-syllable adjectives the ugliest, the noisiest,

ending in -y ugly, noisy, messy uglier, noisier, messier the messiest

more careful, more the most careful, the

Longer adjectives (with careful, expensive, expensive, more most expensive, the
two or more syllables) beautiful beautiful most beautiful

With some two-syllable

adjectives both -er and the most polite / the
-est endings more polite / politer, politest, the most
and more /most are more common / common / the
possible. polite, common commoner commonest

With some two-syllable

adjectives only an -er or narrower, simpler, the narrowest, the
-est ending is possible. narrow, simple, clever cleverer simplest, the cleverest

Notable exceptions
good better the best

bad worse the worst

far further / farther the furthest / the farthest

Comparative adjectives and opposites

Heres a list of some comparative adjectives and their opposites:

Adjective comparative Opposite adjective comparative

old older young younger

cheap cheaper expensive more expensive

slow slower fast faster

hot hotter cold colder

warm warmer cool cooler

rich richer poor poorer

large larger small smaller

high higher low lower

interesting more interesting boring more boring

safe safer dangerous more dangerous

comfortable more comfortable uncomfortable more uncomfortable

strong stronger weak weaker

wide wider narrow narrower

clever cleverer stupid more stupid

deep deeper shallow shallower

good better bad worse

far further
near nearer (also farther)

untidy more untidy

tidy tidier (also untidier)

happy happier
Few, a few, little, a little
Few / a few, little / a little are quantifiers. Here is how to use them correctly:
Few, a few
A few is more than few.
We use a few and few + a plural
countable noun.
A few is a positive idea.
Few is a negative idea. It means
'almost none'. We can also use very
few.
A few and few have
irregularcomparative and
superlative forms.
Little, a little
A little is more than little.
We use a little and little + an
uncountable noun.
A little is a positive idea. It means 'not
much, but some'.
Little is a negative idea. It means
'nearly none, nearly nothing'. We can
also usevery little.
A little and little have
irregularcomparative and superlative
forms.
unhappy more unhappy
(also unhappier)
few people, few books, few letters
a few people, a few books, a few letters
Fortunately, our financial situation is good:
we still have a few good customers.
I'm very sad: I have few good friends.
I'm very sad: I have very few good
friends.
(Both these sentences mean I don't have
many good friends I would like to have
more.)
few fewer the fewest
a few more the most
a little time, a little food, a little money,
little time, little food, little money
I can help you: I speak a little English.
I can't help you. I speak little English.
I can't help you. I speak very
little English.
Both these sentences mean My English
isnt good; I would like to speak English
better.
little less the least
a little more the most